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First Round of Inter-Lebanese Talks in Doha Ends

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Saturday, 17 May 2008

Arab-sponsored inter-Lebanese dialogue opened in Qatar Saturday in a bid to end the long-running political crisis that drove the country to the brink of a new civil war after pro- and anti-government supporters fought bloody gunbattles that left at least 65 people killed in nearly a week. After the fighting, Prime Minister Fouad Saniora's government and the Hizbullah-led opposition agreed to a national dialogue aimed at electing a president and forming a unity government. The first round of talks in Doha, which began at 11 am, ended 90 minutes later with the formation of a four-member committee to tackle the topics of the new government and the elections law. No new date, however, has been set for the next session. Earlier, sources with the ruling March 14 coalition said that all they expected from the Doha talks was a "long-term truce." Other sources, however, said March 14 leaders were tilted toward focusing on the issue of restoring confidence among the feuding camps. But sources close to opposition leaders taking part in the Doha talks said dialogue was likely to end with the creation of a follow-up committee in the event that the warring sides failed to reach agreement on the formation of a new government and an electoral law. In Doha on Friday, the feuding political leaders gathered in a luxury hotel for an opening session chaired by Qatar's Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, who then adjourned the meeting until the first round of talks proper on Saturday at 0730 GMT (10:30 am). As U.S. President George Bush visited neighboring Saudi Arabia, Washington expressed its support for the Doha talks and vowed not to interfere. "We are pleased that there is now a process, that the fighting in the streets have stopped," a senior U.S. State Department official, who requested anonymity, told reporters. "What we are doing is making it clear first of all that we do support this process because there are a lot of people who would like to say that we don't," he said. "We are in touch with Lebanese from across the political spectrum... to note that we are supporting this process, that we will be helpful but not interfering with this process." In a brief address to the politicians, Qatar's emir stressed the need to preserve Lebanon's unity and said he hoped the rivals would reach an agreement. The two sides in the simmering political conflict met after Saniora and parliament majority leader Saad Hariri flew into Qatar on a private plane. Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea, former President Amin Gemayel and Druze leader Walid Jumblat of the ruling March 14 coalition arrived separately on a Qatari aircraft that also brought opposition member and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and his ally Free Patriotic Movement chief Gen. Michel Aoun. Hizbullah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah did not travel to Qatar, apparently for security reasons, and was represented by Hizbullah MP Mohammed Raad instead. "These are early days. It's just the first meeting," Geagea told reporters after the adjournment. Aoun called for the formation of an interim government to lead the nation if the Doha talks failed to achieve a settlement. The feuding politicians agreed on Thursday to launch a dialogue as part of a six-point plan, following Arab League mediation led by Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem al-Thani. Under the deal the rivals undertook "to shore up the authority of the Lebanese state throughout the country," to refrain from using weapons to further political aims and to remove militants from the streets. It also urged them to refrain from using language that could incite violence. Life began returning to normal in Beirut on Friday as the port, businesses and many schools reopened. The daily An-Nahar called the deal "an achievement bordering on a miracle" while the pro-opposition Al-Akhbar said: "Those going to Doha today carry an immense patriotic duty in their hands." A group of disabled people, some wounded in Lebanon's 1975-1990 civil war, gathered on the Beirut airport road bearing signs for the departing political leaders: "If you don't agree, don't come back." In the biggest challenge yet to Saniora, gunmen from the Syria- and Iran-backed opposition rose up against pro-government forces last week, taking over swathes of west Beirut in the worst sectarian violence since the civil war. Hopes of a deal rose on Wednesday after the government cancelled measures against Hizbullah that had triggered the unrest. It rescinded plans to probe a private Hizbullah telecommunications network and reassign the head of airport security over allegations he was close to the group, moves Nasrallah branded a declaration of war. Parliament in Beirut is due to convene on June 10 for a 20th attempt to elect a president. Damascus protégé Emile Lahoud stepped down at the end of his term in November, exacerbating a crisis that began in late 2006 when six pro-Syrian ministers quit the cabinet. Both sides agree on army chief Gen. Michel Suleiman as Lahoud's successor, but they remain at odds over the details of a proposed unity government and a new electoral law for parliamentary polls due next year.(AFP-Naharnet)

 

 

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